What Is Automation and Control Engineering?

Key takeaways

Automation and control engineering involve designing electrical or mechanical systems to perform specific tasks across various industries.

• Automatic control in engineering is the goal of replacing human components in a system with digital or computer controllers whenever feasible.

• Industries that benefit from automation and control engineering include manufacturing and production, utilities, and logistics.

• You can apply key principles of automation engineering, which include planning strategically, training developers in automation, adhering to protocols, and adopting automation in phases. 

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An important note about terminology

The terms automation engineer, control engineer, and automation and control engineer tend to be used interchangeably in this field. This association is because while automation and control engineers have specific duties that cause them to differ, many professionals work in positions with significant overlap. Some professionals refer to this overlapping area as mechatronics. For the sake of this article, the title of the role used is “automation and control engineer.”

What is automation and control engineering?

Automation and control engineering involve creating electrical or mechanical systems to control specific tasks. This traditionally includes sensor-based systems, such as those in manufacturing, but has recently expanded to include IT systems in health care, finance, and business. The focus is on finding ways to simplify processes and implement solutions that help to minimize the need for human intervention.

Definition and scope of automation and control engineering

Automation and control engineering finds utilization anytime a business uses a system that includes repetitive processes or tasks. It involves using theoretical and practical knowledge to examine these systems and integrate them into more efficient and reliable structures that don’t need humans to engage with them continually. The scope of automation and control engineering is wide and can be found within all types of industries, from manufacturing to business and health care.

Key principles of automation in engineering

The key engineering automation principles help reduce errors, increase efficiency, and launch new technologies faster. They include:

• Plan strategically

• Train developers on automation

• Be proactive in controlling the implementation process

• Adhere to protocols

• Use phased adoption

What is automatic control in engineering?

Automatic control in engineering is the goal of replacing humans within a system with digital or computer controllers whenever it’s feasible. This process helps make these systems more cost-effective and efficient, and minimizes the time humans spend on repetitive or menial tasks.

Overview of automatic control systems

Automatic control systems use interconnected components to create a desired result. The system itself consists of multiple inputs (the desired process) and outputs (the true process).

Types of control systems: Open-loop vs. closed-loop

Two popular types of systems include open-loop and closed-loop systems. In an open-loop system, a controller, either human or not, actively influences a system’s behavior or output regardless of what that output is. This is because the open-loop system has no feedback loop to tell the controller the output results. A dryer is a good example: The controller starts the dryer by setting its timer, which runs for a predetermined period and then stops, even if the clothes are still wet, because it doesn’t monitor the clothing itself.

A closed-loop system uses feedback to monitor output. For example, a home’s heating system heats the air to a desired temperature and then adjusts its output based on the resulting temperature. Because this type of system self-regulates, it minimizes the amount of input needed from the controller.

What industries benefit from automation and control engineering?

Because automation and control engineering can help reduce workloads and increase productivity, it has the power to benefit a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, and transportation. Some of these industries include:

Manufacturing and production

Manufacturing and production use automation and control engineering, also called industrial engineering, to automate a wide range of productivity tasks using machines and robotics.

Energy and utilities

Cities use automation and control engineering to monitor, respond to, and improve utility services and needs, such as water, garbage collection, and energy grids. This supervision helps enhance the efficiency and reliability of these services.

Transportation and logistics

Automation and control engineering help the transportation and logistics industry by tracking vehicles and traffic in real time. This increases efficiency and reduces the risk of delayed deliveries or traffic accidents.

What does an automation engineer do?

An automation engineer uses technology to help streamline, automate, and improve different processes to ensure they are as efficient and reliable as possible. Automation engineers typically do this by creating automated machinery and computer systems that work independently of human intervention.

Roles and responsibilities of automation engineers

An automation engineer's main roles and responsibilities are to collaborate with other professionals to design automation plans and systems that help a business meet its specific goals. They use computers to write and store the necessary code. These engineers also tend to be responsible for creating documentation to train others on how their systems function.

As an automation engineer, you’ll be expected to analyze your employers’ unique needs and goals and then use computer-aided design software to design the schematics needed to create new processes and automated systems. Then, you’ll need to manage, upgrade, and modify these systems as needed.

Tasks and projects

Some of the tasks and projects you might expect in this role include:

• Communicating with other professionals about project requirements

• Researching and designing automated processes

• Providing needed technical support

• Testing and debugging processes

• Documenting processes

• Establishing quality assurance processes

Learn more: Quality Assurance Certification: Options, Testing, and Careers

How to become an automation engineer

To become an automation engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar major, like computer science, and experience in the field. Some employers prefer a master’s degree. Once you have the required educational background, you can develop your skills with internships or entry-level roles. Use those experiences to network and build a portfolio showcasing your expertise.

Skills required for automation engineering

Successful automation engineers tend to have the following skills:

• Programming and software development

• Systems design and engineering

• Leadership

• Innovation

• Collaboration and communication

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving

• Mechanical knowledge

• Advanced robotics

Is automation engineer a good career?

An automation engineer can be a good career because you can pursue diverse career paths while also finding opportunities for advancement. Although you may associate this position with the manufacturing industry, sectors such as information technology (IT), renewable energy, and health care may also offer jobs for automation engineers, especially in the near future. In terms of your career journey, you can begin working as a junior automation engineer, advance to an automation engineer, and then obtain a senior-level position such as lead automation engineer, principal automation engineer, or senior automation engineer. As your career progresses, you may encounter opportunities for executive-level roles, including automation team lead, director of automation, and VP of engineering (automation). 

What is a day like as an automation and control engineer?

As an automation and control engineer, you’ll spend your time identifying specific needs and issues within a process, then work with other professionals to design, create, implement, and manage these automated systems to help your employers reach their goals.

Career prospects in automation and control engineering

Automation and control engineering offers a wide range of opportunities across various industries. You might find this role in manufacturing or processing plants, warehouses, call centers, etc. This dynamic field allows you to find a role within an industry you feel passionate about.

Job outlook and growth opportunities

The job outlook for automation and control engineers is positive, with a high demand for these professionals across a wide range of industries. For example, mechanical engineers, who are similar, are projected to see a 9 percent growth rate from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all jobs [1]. The median annual total salary for automation and control engineers in the US is $119,000 [2]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation. 

Automation and control engineers can advance into more specialized roles, such as senior engineers, web developers, quality assurance leads, or project engineers.

Potential career paths and specializations

Some potential career paths and specializations within automation and control engineering include industrial engineering, building engineering, process automation engineering, software automation engineering, or robotic automation engineering.

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